Database Reliability Engineer - job 1 of 2

As a Database Reliability Engineer at Justworks, your primary responsibilities include managing and scaling our database datastores, ensuring data reliability and performance. You will work closely with SRE and Infrastructure teams to implement strategies for growth, address database-related issues through root cause analysis, and tune systems for optimal performance. You'll also participate in after-hours support and handle production releases, improving our monitoring and observability capabilities, all while ensuring SOX compliance.

At Justworks, to be considered for the Database Reliability Engineer position, you should have a minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience with database systems, specifically MySQL and PostgreSQL. Familiarity with supporting high-availability DB clusters, cloud platforms like AWS, and automation tools such as Puppet or Terraform is also essential. Strong programming skills in SQL and Python, alongside a good understanding of Linux systems, will set you apart in this role.

Justworks fosters a collaborative and open environment where teamwork and communication are highly valued. As a Database Reliability Engineer, you'll have the opportunity to share knowledge, mentor team members, and participate in exciting projects. Our emphasis on camaraderie and integrity means you will feel supported by your colleagues, with a company culture that encourages creativity and continuous learning.

As a Database Reliability Engineer at Justworks, you will work with a range of technologies, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, AWS, as well as programming languages like Ruby on Rails and Golang. You'll also be utilizing automation tools such as Docker and Terraform. By engaging with these technologies, you will play an integral part in enhancing the performance and reliability of our database systems.

The targeted salary range for the Database Reliability Engineer role at Justworks is between $115,000 to $155,000 per year, based in our New York City office. Compensation is determined based on various factors such as your skillset, relevant experience, and specific work location. For a detailed look at our Total Rewards Philosophy and the benefits we offer, we encourage you to explore that on our careers page.

When answering this question, highlight specific techniques you have used to optimize database performance, such as query optimization, indexing strategies, or configuration tuning in MySQL or PostgreSQL environments. Explain the impact of your tuning efforts, providing metrics or outcomes to support your claims.

Discuss your approach to incident management, emphasizing your problem-solving skills and your methodology for root cause analysis. Share examples of past incidents you’ve managed, detailing the steps you took to resolve them and how you communicated with your team during the process.

In your response, mention specific tools you are familiar with, such as DataDog, New Relic, or custom-built solutions. Explain how you leverage these tools to monitor performance metrics, set alerts, and proactively identify potential issues before they impact users.

Address your experience with data compliance frameworks and the practices you implement to maintain security. Discuss how you collaborate with different teams to ensure all changes and database operations align with SOX regulations, highlighting any tools or processes you use for audits and monitoring.

Share your expertise in implementing high-availability strategies like replication and sharding. Provide examples of successful projects where you maintained uptime and performance during system failures or significant traffic spikes, illustrating your ability to keep databases resilient.

Discuss the automation tools you are skilled in, such as Terraform, Ansible, or Puppet, explaining how you have utilized these tools to implement database strategies, perform provisioning, or execute backups. Highlight specific scenarios that demonstrate improved efficiency.

When answering, provide a detailed narrative of the project, including its goals, challenges, and your role in the execution. Discuss the technologies used, the obstacles you faced, and how you successfully achieved the project's outcomes.

Talk about your commitment to professional development, whether through online courses, attending conferences, participating in community forums, or reading relevant literature. Mention how you have applied new knowledge to your work at Justworks or elsewhere, showcasing your continuous learning mindset.

Highlight your teamwork skills and how you communicate effectively with infrastructure engineers. Provide examples of projects where collaboration was key, illustrating how you ensured smooth operations and how you worked together to address challenges relating to databases.

In your response, align your skills and experience with the values and needs of Justworks. Discuss your passion for building reliable database systems, your proactive problem-solving approach, and your enthusiasm for contributing to a collaborative team environment. Demonstrate your enthusiasm for Justworks' mission and culture.